The Dallas Cowboys have experienced a more eventful offseason this year compared to 2024. However, that doesn’t necessarily equate to success. Although they managed to secure Osa Odighizuwa, they lost Rico Dowdle, Chuma Edoga, Chauncey Golston, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Jourdan Lewis to free agency.

Additionally, the team is adjusting to the retirement of Zack Martin. While they have filled some gaps by signing new players, these acquisitions often involve modest contracts or gambles on former first-round talents. Consequently, Nate Davis from USA Today remains unimpressed with their offseason strategy.

He assigned a D grade to the Cowboys for their actions during the initial week of free agency, noting that while they started strong by extending Odighizuwa’s contract, they soon reverted to losing crucial players. “Dallas downgraded from DE Chauncey Golston to bring back Dante Fowler Jr. and let promising (and fresh) Dowdle go, opting instead for a dubious RB tandem of Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders.

Trades for former first-round LB Kenneth Murray and CB Kaiir Elam were borderline bizarre if not all that costly for players who likely otherwise would’ve been cut.” — Davis, USA Today. Davis’s assessment that the team downgraded from Golston to Fowler might be off, but his other observations are reasonable, including his view on their delay in renewing a star player’s contract.

“Micah Parsons seems destined to wait for his second contract … until Jones is likely obligated to pay him more than what Chase just got from Cincinnati.” — Davis, USA Today. Truthfully, the Cowboys don’t merit a spot among the top-tier movers of the offseason. Nonetheless, a D rating seems overly severe, considering they’ve at least positioned themselves with a chance through their transactions.